Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives and nationally recognized academic programs. Northern has a population of about 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Ask a few Northern students what drew them to our university and you will get a variety of answers. That's because there is no single thing that make students want to go to Northern; it is ALL the things that we do here. Northern is big enough to offer a wide variety of academic programs but is also small enough that every time you walk across campus, you'll probably wave "hi" to someone you know.

Curiosity is the raw ingredient of knowledge. It causes us to ask questions, to seek answers, to learn. At Northern Michigan University, natural curiosity and intellectual challenge meet in stimulating classes grounded in the liberal arts. So wherever your curiosity leads you, you can count on the support you need to take the next step, ask the next question, propose the next hypothesis.

The mission of the Northern Michigan University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Sports and the United States Olympic Training Site is to create an environment that promotes academic excellence, interpersonal growth and social development; embraces diversity; teaches lifetime leisure skills; fosters spirit and tradition; and builds a lifelong connection to NMU.

Yes, you'll attend your classes, but what else will you be doing as a student at Northern? There's so much stuff to choose from. There's a student organization or club – almost 300 at last count-- for just about every interest. If you're into investigating the paranormal, anime or improv comedy, there's a group. Cheer on your fellow Wildcats at a hockey game or volleyball match. Join a competitive club sport or an intramural team. The sky is the limit.

NMU Hosts First Poetry, Music and Dance Fest

News Releases

Northern Michigan University will host its first International Poetry, Music and Dance Festival on Saturday, Sept. 7. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Recital Hall. It is free and open to the public.

Featured guests from upstate New York and New York City are poet Mario Moroni, pianist David Gaita and soprano Briana Sakamoto. Moroni, born in Italy, taught Italian language and literature at Yale University and is now at the State University of New York Binghamton. He has published seven volumes of poetry and was awarded the Lorenzo Montano prize for poetry. Gaita, a SUNY Binghamton graduate, studied piano with Michael Salmirs and composition with Christopher M. Loy. He has performed his compositions with a string quartet at the Eastman School of Music, in and around New York City, and in Spain. Sakamoto, also a graduate of SUNY Binghamton, studied with Mary Burgess and has performed throughout New York and in Italy and Spain.

The following NMU faculty members will participate: Beverly Matherne, author of six poetry books and winner of seven first-place poetry awards, including the Hackney Literary Award; percussionist Carrie Biolo, a contemporary musician who has recorded more than 25 CDs and performed internationally; and dancer Maria Formolo, one of the original members of Le Groupe de la Place Royale and former artistic director of Regina Modern Dance Works. Marquette Senior High School student and dancer Clara Biolo Thompson will also perform.

The program is sponsored by the English honor society Sigma Tau Delta and the NMU departments of English, music and modern languages and literatures.